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War in Korea about to kickoff
3 minute readDecember 28, 20227:44 AM PSTLast Updated 3 hours ago
SEOUL, Dec 28 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea must be met with retaliation without hesitation despite its nuclear weapons, his office said, after an intrusion by North Korean drones.
Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting South Korea's military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters to try to shoot them down, in the first such intrusion since 2017.
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"We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. That is the most powerful means to deter provocations," Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, according to his press secretary Kim Eun-hye.
"We must not fear or hesitate because North Korea has nuclear weapons," he said.
Monday's intrusion triggered criticism in South Korea of its air defences. Yoon chided the military, in particular its failure to bring down the drones while they flew over South Korea for hours.
Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament on Wednesday that Yoon had ordered him to send drones into North Korea in response to any incursion "even if that means risking escalation".
South Korea's military has apologised for its response and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.
A South Korean Navy Lynx helicopter fires flares during a commemoration ceremony marking South Korea's Armed Forces Day, which will fall on October 1, at the Second Fleet Command of Navy in Pyeongtaek on September 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool
Relations between North Korea and U.S. ally South Korea have been testy for decades but have grown even more tense since Yoon's conservative government took over in May promising a tougher line with the northern rival.
South Korea must respond to N.Korea despite its nuclear arms - Yoon
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea must be met with retaliation without hesitation despite its nuclear weapons, his office said, after an intrusion by North Korean drones.
www.reuters.com
3 minute readDecember 28, 20227:44 AM PSTLast Updated 3 hours ago
South Korea must respond to N.Korea despite its nuclear arms - Yoon
By Hyonhee ShinSEOUL, Dec 28 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea must be met with retaliation without hesitation despite its nuclear weapons, his office said, after an intrusion by North Korean drones.
Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting South Korea's military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters to try to shoot them down, in the first such intrusion since 2017.
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"We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. That is the most powerful means to deter provocations," Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, according to his press secretary Kim Eun-hye.
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Register now"We must not fear or hesitate because North Korea has nuclear weapons," he said.
Monday's intrusion triggered criticism in South Korea of its air defences. Yoon chided the military, in particular its failure to bring down the drones while they flew over South Korea for hours.
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Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament on Wednesday that Yoon had ordered him to send drones into North Korea in response to any incursion "even if that means risking escalation".
South Korea's military has apologised for its response and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.
A South Korean Navy Lynx helicopter fires flares during a commemoration ceremony marking South Korea's Armed Forces Day, which will fall on October 1, at the Second Fleet Command of Navy in Pyeongtaek on September 28, 2017. REUTERS/Jung Yeon-Je/Pool
Relations between North Korea and U.S. ally South Korea have been testy for decades but have grown even more tense since Yoon's conservative government took over in May promising a tougher line with the northern rival.